Internal-combustion engine



p i 4, 1931. R. L. SKINNI ER 1,800,480

' INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Fil ed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 14, 1931- R. L. SKINNERI 1,800,480

INTERNAL COMBUSTI ON ENGINE Original Filed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l M [I I :1 L :15

Ill W I ll! I ll 28 f 13 25 L- N4 25 1 15 I Patented A r. 14,1931

PATENT OFFICE RALPH L. sxmmm, or nn'r'non', moment INTERNAL-COIBUSTION ENGINE .Application filed-March a, 1929, Serial No. a45,77i.- Renewed September a, 1030.

My invention relates to structural and functional betiernients in internal-combustion engines and concerns more particularly those having'sliding valves, whereby to overcome difliculties heretofore existing in relation to sealing the gas-pressures in the cylinders and thereby preventing substantial or objectionable leakage.

To permit those trained in. this art to l fullyunderstand the invention, in the accompa'nying drawings forming a part of this specification, a present desirable and. preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in detail, and, for simplicity, like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate the same parts.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a substantially central, longitudinal section .on line 1- -1 of Figure 3 through one cylinder of a multi-cylinder en- Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-,2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section on line 33 of Figure 1; and I Figure '4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a portion of one of the engine cylinders and associated parts.

By reference to these-drawings,.it will be noted that the engine. includes an outer, water-cooled cylinder '11 mounted on the top of a crank-case 12 containing the usual supply of lubricating oil.

Inside of such outer cylinder, concentric therewith'and spaced inwardly away from such exterior cylinder, an inner cylinder 13 ,is' mounted being-supported solely from its lower end by means of screws 14, 14 taking 40 into threaded holes inthe lower part of the cylinder-block.

- Cylinder 11 has inlet and-exhaustports 15 and '16, respectively, and the flat, top

edge-17 of the inner cylinder, which is at right-angles to its axis, is located below such ports, as is clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 4.

- Bearin cylinder is a split, expansible, sealing-ring 18 having admission and discharge ports 19 on such top edge of the inner and 21, respectively, in substantial register with the corresponding cylinder-ports15 and 16, the split or slip joint 22 of such ring having outer and inner overlapping tongues 23 and 24 which seal the joint effectively especially when forced outwardly by the gas pressure in the cylinder and without preventing thepro-per and efi'ective'expan'sion or enlargement of the ring. v

Cylin er-port 15 and the-companion port of the inlet-valve, hereinafter referred to,

have registering bridges 25 and 26 and the ring-joint 22 is maintained in register with these by a radial, holding pin 27 fixedly mounted in a cylinder-head 28 bolted on and depending into the upper'part of the outer cylinder, the end of such pin fitting in a cavity in the inner face of the ring.

An endless, hold-down ring 29 of rightangle cross-section, givin -it a shallow, inner, horizontal flange or ledge 31, bears on the upper edge of the sealing-ring, their contacting faces being at right-angles to their common axis, so thattlle sealing-ring may contract and expend without. material interference.

The lower, reduced-diameter section of the cylinder-head 28 is supplied externally with any suitable number of ring-grooves 32, 32. acconnnodating. split expansion-rings 33 33, similar to the customary piston-rings, pressing outwardly bytheir own inherent resiliency against the inner face of the holddown ring 29 to prevent the gas pressures of compression and explosion from leaking out between them. e

An annular cavity 34 in the cylinder-head provides space for a pair of semi-circular ring-sections 35 and 36, each having an external-shoulder 37 overlying and bearing on the top edge of the hold-down ring 29,-as is perhaps more, clearly depicted in Figure l.

Ringssection 35 is in substantial alignment or'register with the inlet-port 19 and the correlated ring-section 36 is in similar relation to the exhaust-port 21, member in its upper face, in. the present instance,

having eleven, equally-spaced recesses 38, each housing a short, coiled spring 39 pressing at its upper end against the top wall Thus the sealing-ring, 18 due to the hold-' down ring, has a less downward pressure against the top end of the inner cylinder at the inlet-ports than it has at the exhaust ports by reason of the difference in the number of springs employed, although'it will be apparent that an analogous result could be accomplished by using the same number of springs in each instance with those at the exhaust-ports of greater strength than those at the inlet-ports.

Ported, transversely-curved or arcuate inlet and exhaust valves 43 and 44, respectively, reciprocate in the aligned, thin, annular chambers between the two cylinders and between the outer cylinder and the cylinder-head, being actuated in proper timed relation by suitably-rotated crank-shafts or eccentrics 45' and 46 in the crank-case and their associated connecting-rods 47 and 48. By means not necessary to describe, such valves are suitably lubricated with the excess lubricant withdrawn to prevent its finding access into the ports, manifolds, or cylinders.

The usual piston 49 reciprocates in the inner cylinder and it is joined in the customary manner to the main crank-shaft, not shown, by the connecting-rod 51.

The new structure operates practically as follows:

,The natural tendency of the sealing-ring to expand enlarges it and presses it outwardly against the valves and forces the latter against the inner surface of the exterior cylinder, and this action is augmented by the varying gas pressures in the cylinder, whereby such pressures of compression and explosion contribute to scaling themselves in the cylinder by preventing leakage at the joint of the sealing-ring and between the ring and valves, and between the latter and the outer cylinder.

It is also necessary to press the sealingring down sufiiciently on to the top end of the inner cylinder to preclude leakage at this point.

This is accomplished in part by the gas pressures in the cylinder pressing downwardly on the ledge or flange 31 of the holddown ring and in part by the plurality of springs 39 and 42 which, through the ringsections and 36, bear downwardly on the hold-down ring.

Such action not only excludes leakage between the ported sealing-ring and inner cylinder but also between the hold-down and sealing rings.

\Vhen the maximum explosion pressure occurs, the exhaust-valve 44 is moving upwardly tending to lift the sealing-ring with it off of its seat on the end of the inner cylinder and at the same time the inlet or admission valve is traveling downwardly and tends to hold the sealing-ring on its seat on the end of the inner cylinder.

It is in part to compensate for such differences in forces acting on opposite portions of the sealing-ring that the ring 3536 is divided into sections with the one corresponding to the exhaust valve and port having a greater downward spring action than the companion one, so that when the explosion occurs, the forces actin on the sealing-ring will be substantial y around it, thus allowing the ring itself to expand more easily and efficiently.

When there is no substantial pressure in the cylinder, the springs revent the sealing-ring from rising from its bearing on the inner cylinder due to the movements of the valves against which it presses.

'It will, therefore, be readily understood that the fluid pressures in the cylinder are employed to assist in sealing the structural elements in such a way as to prevent escape of the gases or the reduction of the pressures.

It will, furthermore, be comprehended that the gas pressures in the cylinder cannot reach the springs which act on the holddown ring, so that such springs do not have to counteract such pressures, to do their intended work.

By the simple means illustrated and described, the scaling-ring and its affiliated mechanical elements hold the pressures in the cylinder without material loss, using such pressures to aid in the sealing action and employing such other means as may be suitable to assist in attaining the desired result.

The invention is obviously not limited and restricted to the precise and exact details of structure presented and these may be modified within comparatively wide limits without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the loss of any of its material or substantial benefits or advantages.

Some of the features of construction of this appliance are covered by the claims of m co-pending patent application, Serial No. 337 ,77 8, filed February 6th, 1929.

I claim:'

1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, orted arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said equalized Q a. I Q inner cylin longitudinally of said cylin ers,.j means to reciprocate said valves',ja reciprocatory p1s-.

1 ton in said inner-cylinder, a" connecting-rod joined to said piston andadapte'd. for con-- nection to a crank-shaft, and mcans'to allow the gas pressures above-said piston to press said sealing-ring down omits-seat on said inner cylinder. I

2. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust. ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for "said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders,

means to reciprocate said valves, a recipro catory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said .plston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft,

means to allow the gas pressures above said arcuate valves between said outer'cylinderand said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and "movable longitudinally'of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, means to allow the gas pressures above said piston to press said, sealing ring down on to its seat on said inner cylinder, .resilient means supplementing such sealing-ring I pressing action of the gas, and means to prevent access of said gas pressures to said resilient means. p

v4. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and; exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away 4 from said outer cylinder, means to seal. the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an ex ansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported er and sealing-'rin "and movable arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, and

a hold-down ring bearing on the upper face of said sealing-ring and having a transverse surface exposed to thegas pressures above said'piston, whereby such pressures tend to hold said sealing-ring to its seat 011 said inner cylinder.

'5. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, aninner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise onsaid inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register. with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder,

ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealingring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a. reciprocator piston in said inner-cylinder, a 'connectlng-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, a hold-down ring bearing on the upper face of said sealing-ring and having a transverse surface exposed to the gas pressures above said piston, whereby such pressures tend to hold said hold-down ring to its bearing on said sealing-ring andsaid sealing-ring to itsseat on said inner cylinder,'and means to prevent escape of said gas pressures be tween said cylinder-head and said holddown ring.

. 6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the engine a ainst leakage including an expansib e sea ing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner c linder and having ports in substantial reglster with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder andsealing-rin and movable lon itudinally of said cylin ers, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined-to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, and means to apply vunequal pressures simultaneously on difier.-- ent portions of said sealing-ring tending to force'it to its seat on said inner cylinder.

' 7. In an internal-combustion.engine, the

combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an'inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in 'the'engine against leakage includingan expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and havin ports in substantial register with said cy 'nder ports, a

5 inner cylinder and sealing-rm and movable Ill longitudinally of said cylin er, means to reciprocate said valves, areciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, means to allow the gas pressures above said piston'to press said sealin -ring down on its seat on said inner cylin er, and resilient means to apply un-- equal pressures simultaneously on di erent portions of said sealing-ring tending to force it to its seat on sai inner cylinder.

8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the en 'ne against leakage including an ex ansi le sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and havin ports in substantial register with said cy inder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder a d sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, 9. reciprocatory pis-. tom in said inner-cylinder, a connectingrod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, resilient meansto apply unequal pressures simultaneouslv on difi'erent portions of said sealing-ring tending to, force it to its seat on said inner cylinder, and means to revent access. of the gas pressures above sai piston to said resilient means. 3

9. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly awa from said outer cylinder, means to seal t 1e gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder arid said inner cylinder and sealing-rin and movable longitudinally of said cylin ers, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, a hold-down ring bearing on said sealing-ring, and resilient means tp apply. unequal pressures simultaneously on difierent portions of said holddown'ring to force said hold-down ring to its bearing on said sealing-ring and said siealing-ring to its seat on said inner. cylin- 10. In an' internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having ininner cylin er and havin 1 rin engine'against leakage including an expan- 7 sible sealin -ring bearing edgewise on said ports in substantial register with said cyhnder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate'valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable longitudinal of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod'joined to said piston and ada ted for connection, to a crank-shaft, a -hol -down ring bearing on said sealing-ring, means to ap 1v unequal pressures simultaneously on ifl'erent portions of said hold-down ring to force said hold-down to its bearing on said sealing-ring and said sealing-ring to its seat on said inner cylinder, and means to prevent access of t piston to said unequal pressure means.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible'sealing-ring bearing e gas pressures above said edgewise on said inner cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealingand movable longitudinally of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a reciprocator piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, a hold-down ring bearing on the upper edge of said sealing-ring, expansion ring means between, said cylinder-head and said hold-down ring preventing leakage of gas pressures above'said piston therebetween, a ring in sections bearing on said hold-down ring, and'resilient means interposed between said cylinder-head and each of said ring sections pressing the latter downwardly on said hold-down ring and the latter down on said sealing-ring.

12. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible sealin -I 'ing bearing edgewise on said inner cylin er and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer cylinder, ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealingring and movable longitudinally of said edge .of. said sealing-ring means between said .cylinde expansion ring r-head and saidhold-down ring preventing leakage of gas cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves,

pressures above saidpiston therebetween, a'

ring in sections bearing on said hold-down ring, and a plurality of'springs interposed between said cylinder-head and each of said ring sections pressing the latter downwardly on said hold-down ring and the latter down on saidsealing-ring.

13. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner-cylinder and having ports in substantial register with said cylinder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder,

ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing ring and m vable longitudinally of said a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder,

' a connecting-rod joined to said piston and inder, an expansible sealing-ring bearing adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, an endless hold dow'n'ring bearing on the upper edge of said sealing-ring, expansion ring means between said cylinder-head and said hold-down ring preventing leakage of gas pressures above said piston therebetween, a ring in sections b aring on said hold-down ring, and resilie t means of unequal strengths interposed between said cylinderhead and said ring sections pressing the latter downwardly on said hold-down ring and the latter down on said sealing-ring.

14. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spaced inwardly away from said outer cyledgewise on said inner cylinderand having ports insubstantial register with said cyl-- inder ports, a head for said outer-cylinder,

pressuresabove said piston therebetween, a

ported arcuate valves between said outer cylinder andzsaid-inner cylinder and sealingringand movable longitudinally of'said cylinders, mea ns to reciprocate-said valves, a reciprocatory piston in said inner-cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a cran (-shaft, an endless hold-down ring bearing on the upper edge of said sealing-ring, expansion rm means between said cylinder-head and sai hold-down ring preventing leakage of gas ring divided into two sections bearin on said hold-down ring in substantial register with the inlet and exhaust ports of said sealing-ring, resilient means interposed between said cylinder-head and said inlet-port ring section, and resilient means of greater strength interposed between said cylinderhead and said exhaust-port ring section, said resilient means press ng said ring sectlons downwardly on said hold-down ring and the "latter down on said sealing-ring.

15. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combination of a ported outer cylinder, an

inner cylinder in andspaced inwardly away from said outer, cylinder, means t,o seal the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bear-.

ing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having port mea'nsin substantial register wlth the port lneansof said outer cylinder, a head for said outer cylinder, arcuate valve-means between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder vand sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders and controlling the' port means of said cylinder and ring, means to reciprocate said valve-means,

a. reciprocatory piston in said inner c linder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, and means to allow the gas pressures above said piston to press said sealing-ring toward'its seat on said inner cylinder.

16. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported outer cylinder, an inner cylinder in and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealin -ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylindera'nd having port means in substantlal register with the port means of said outer cylinder, a head combination of a ported outer cylinder, an

inner cylinder in and spaced inwardly away from said outer cglinden means to seal the as pressures in t e engine a ainst leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having, port means in substantial register with the port means of said outer cylinder, a head for said, outer cylinder, arcuate valvemeans between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-rin and movable lon itudinally of said c lin ers and control ing the port means 0 said cylinder and ring, means to reciprocate said valve-means,

a reciprocatory piston in said inner c 1in-" der, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, means to allow the gas pressures above said piston to press said sealing-ring toward its seat on said inner cylinder, resllient means supplementing such sealing-ring pressing action of the gas, and means to revent access of said gas pressures to sald resilient gas pressures in the engine against leakage including. an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having port means in substantial register with the ort means of said outer cylinder, a head or said outer cylinder, a1 cuate valve-means between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders and controlling the port means of said cylinder and ring, means to reciprocate said valve means, a reciprocatory piston in said inner cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said plston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, and a hold-down ring bearing on the upper part of said sealing-ring and having a transverse surface exposed to the gas pressures, above said piston, whereby such pressures tend to hold said hold-down ring to its bearing on said sealing-ring and said sealing-ring to its seat on said inner cylinder.

19. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination'of a ported outer cylinder, an inner cylinder in and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having port means in substantial register with the port means of said outer cylinder,'a head for said outer cylinder, arcuate valve-means between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable'longitudinally of said cylinders and controlling the port means of said 'cy-linder and ring, means to reciprocate said valve-means, a reciprocatory piston in said inner cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, an endless hold-down ring hearing on the upper part of said sealing-ring and having a transverse surface exposed to the gas pressures above said piston, whereby such pressures tend to hold said hold-down rin to its bearing on said sealing-ring and sai sealing-ring to its seat on said inner cylinder, and means to prevent escape of said gas pressures between said cylinder-head and said hold-down rin 20. In an interned combination of a ported outer cylinder, an inner cylinder in and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, an expansible sealin -ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylin er and having port means in substantial re 'ster with the port means of said outer cy inder, a head for said outer cylinder, ar

cuate valve-means between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-ring and movable longitudinally of said cylinders and controlling the port means of said cylinder and ring, means td reciprocate said. alve-means a reciprocatory piston in said inner cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connection to a crank-shaft, a hold-down ring bearin on the upper part of said sealing-ring and aving a transverse surface exposed to the gas pressures above said PlStOIl, whereby such pressures tend to hold said hold-down ring to its bearing on said sealin -ring and said sealing-ring to its seat on sai inner cylinder,

and resilient means acting on said holddown ring tending to force'said hold-down ring to its bearing on said sealing-ring and said sealing-ring to. its seat on said inner cylinder. 1

21. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported outer cylinder, an inner cylinder in and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, means to seal the gas pressures in the engine against leakage including an expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on said inner cylinder and having port means in substantial register with the port means of said outer cylinder, a head for said outer cylinder, arcuate valve-means between said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder and sealing-rin and movable longitudinally of said cylinders and controlling the port means ofsaid cylinder and ring, means to reciprocate said valve-n1eans, a reciprocatory piston in said inner cylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted for connectionto a'crank-shaft, and

In witness whereof I myhand.

RALPH L. SKINNER.

-combustion engine, the 

